The national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a bladder cancer sufferer who took Actos. A recent study provides further support that the usage of Actos puts patients at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

National Actos Bladder Cancer Attorneys

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 09, 2012

Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective drugs, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the type 2 diabetes drug Actos caused bladder cancer in a Louisiana man. The suit was filed on June 14th in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Case No. 6:12-cv-1702) and is currently pending in the Actos multidistrict litigation, centralized before Judge Rebecca F. Doherty (MDL No. 6:11-md-2299). Jerrold S. Parker, founding partner of Parker Waichman, has been appointed to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Eli Lilly and Co. have been named as Defendants. [lawd.uscourts.gov/MDL2299;lawd.uscourts.gov/MDL2299/html/news.html]

According to the lawsuit, the Plaintiff ingested Actos from 2006 to 2008, and developed bladder cancer around 2007. As a result of the allegedly defective drug, the lawsuit is claiming severe mental and physical pain and suffering, past and future permanent injuries and emotional distress, economic loss due to medical expenses and living related expenses as a result of a new lifestyle on behalf of the Plaintiff. The suit further alleges that the Defendants did not adequately warn about Actos, despite being aware of the drug’s potential link to bladder cancer.

In particular, the lawsuit notes the Defendants’ failure to inform consumers about the increased risk associated with one year of exposure to the drug. This association was announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last June in a Safety Announcement; according to data from an ongoing 10 year study by Kaiser Permanente, patients taking Actos for one year were 40 percent more likely to develop bladder cancer compared to those who had never been exposed. The announcement also informed of Actos’ subsequent label change to address this risk.

Days before the FDA announced the label update, Actos was pulled from the market in France and Germany. According to the complaint, the decision was based on a French study that followed over 1.5 million patients with diabetes for four years; findings indicated a significant increased risk among male patients after one year of use.

In April, Health Canada also modified the label on Actos to warn about the potential increased risk of bladder cancer. Late last month, Canadian researchers published a study in the British Medical Journal showing that patients who used Actos for two years were twice as likely to develop bladder cancer.

Most recently, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) found a 22 percent increased risk of bladder cancer when taking Actos. The findings were based on data from over 2.6 million patients in 10 different studies.

Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free legal consultations to victims of Actos. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking Actos, please contact their office by visiting the firm's Actos injury website. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636).